Merkel says has no secrets about her communist past

May 13, 2013|Reuters

By Alexandra Hudson

BERLIN, May 13 (Reuters) - Angela Merkel has dismissedclaims in a new book that she was more actively committed toEast Germany's communist regime than she has acknowledged,saying she has never kept anything secret about her past.

The book, "The first life of Angela M.", says that Merkel,who will seek a third term as chancellor in a federal electionin September, was responsible for Marxist-Leninist education ina unit of the state's youth wing, in a role that went beyond thecultural duties she has previously spoken of.

Asked about the claims late on Sunday after a screening ofher favourite film, a 1973 East German love story, Merkel saidshe had always spoken openly and to the best of her memory.

"I can only fall back on my memories. You just have toaccept this... if something else turns up, then I can live withit," said the 58-year-old chancellor. "What is important to meis that I never kept anything secret."

The book's claims are unlikely to affect Merkel's chances ofre-election but they highlight how enigmatic she remains formany Germans after nearly eight years in power.

German media have had a field day printing pictures of Merkel, who is extremely protective of her private sphere, as awillowy 20-something on Baltic beach holidays, tending a campfire or drinking with student friends, as commentators try tofathom her early political persuasions.

Merkel joked there may be other aspects of her earlier lifeto be unearthed: "It is always the case that when somethingemerges, which of course from the perspective of the former WestGermany looks very different, then people say 'she hasn't toldus this yet' and 'she hasn't told us that yet'."

"I don't know - maybe there are other things I didn't talkabout because no one ever asked me."

Merkel was 35 when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and wasworking as a scientist at an academic institute. She hasdescribed her early life as non-political, in contrast to GermanPresident Joachim Gauck, a former East German pastor whovigorously opposed the regime.

While at the science research institute Merkel said she wasa cultural official for the Free German Youth (FDJ), themovement nearly all East German youngsters joined as teenagers.

Commenting on her role in a 2004 book, Merkel said she tookit to get out more often, particularly as her then husbandmostly wanted to stay at home. It entailed organising outings,readings by young Soviet writers and getting theatre tickets.

The new book repeats previous claims that the role was as an"Agitation and Propaganda (agitprop) functionary" and was at ahigher hierarchical level than Merkel had previously stated.

Asked in 2004 about an "agitprop" role, Merkel said: "Icannot remember agitating in any way whatsoever. I wasresponsible for culture."

In its heyday, the FDJ, whose members wore blue shirts andpledged to be "ready for peace and socialism", had more than 2million members. East Germany's long-time leader Erich Honeckerwas a former leader of the FDJ, as was his successor Egon Krenz.